Have you ever passed by Prizren on the Sana, a mysterious site of unusual beauty? As you gaze toward the canyon of the Sana River, you might wonder who, when, and why built the architectural complex on top of that hard-to-reach cliff, several hundred meters above the river.
What secrets lie behind the walls of this mysterious
structure? Answers to these questions were revealed by an archaeological team
from the Museum of the Republic of Srpska, led by archaeologist and museum
advisor Goran Simonović. They suggest that the remains belong to a luxurious
residence or a smaller castle!
While legend and local tradition speak of the city of the
Black Queen, who fled before the Turkish conquerors with her horses shod in
reverse and carrying immense treasures, the archaeologists believe the person
who built this small castle on Prizren should be sought among the nobility who
resided in the city of Ključ and governed the Banjica region, one of the
parishes of the Lower Regions of medieval Bosnia. However, the questions regarding
the original purpose of the complex and its builder will remain open until the
excavations are completed.
WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND AT PRIZREN?
Simonović and his team resumed archaeological research in
mid-October, marking the ninth season of excavations. They discovered that the
walls of the smaller late medieval complex were built in a manner
characteristic of that period. "The walls are made of broken and pressed
stone, bound with lime mortar, stacked in uneven horizontal rows with round
openings, and there are also traces of wooden scaffolding supports,"
Simonović explains.
In the central part of the complex, they found a structure
with a hall and a cellar. "In 2013, during excavation, beautifully
decorated architectural elements of this enigmatic complex sparkled from the
rubble. There were pieces of window frames or door jambs made of soft
sandstone, adorned with motifs of twisted plastic ribbons and engraved
geometric designs. The luxurious character of some of these finds suggests that
the original purpose of the complex may have been residential," adds
Simonović.
Among the layers of earth that have covered the ruins for
over 500 years, archaeologists discovered another layer containing significant
items. These finds, including parts of late medieval weapons, pottery, animal
bones, millstone fragments, glass vessels, horse gear, a flute, a fishing hook,
and building locks, provided crucial insights into the mysterious past of this
place.
THE FALL OF THE COMPLEX
In their research, the archaeologists concluded that the
complex most likely fell in 1463, during the first fall of Bosnia to the Turks.
"Shortly afterward, the complex was occupied by a military garrison that
modified, partially removed, and demolished the remaining structures for communication
purposes," Simonović explains. He adds that everything points to the
observation post at Prizren functioning as part of a chain of fortifications
and watchtowers belonging to the Jajce Banate, a strategic zone against the
Ottoman Empire, formed after the Kingdom of Hungary retook parts of the former
Bosnian kingdom from the Turks. The military garrison probably abandoned the
site at the end of the 15th century, leaving it to the ravages of time
WERE THE ILLYRIANS HERE TOO?
While working on Prizren, archaeologists, with the help of
local residents, discovered the remains of a fortified prehistoric settlement
on the hilltop, a type of hillfort settlement where people discarded broken pot
fragments. "The presence of these shards on the cliffs above the roaring
and canyon-bound Sana River shows that people frequented this site long before
the medieval builders began their work. Several fragments of prehistoric
pottery were found at the beginning of the excavation, by sheer chance, on the
surface of the site. Surprisingly, these humble, discarded pieces of broken
vessels immediately transport us into the labyrinth of history, deep into
ancient times, into the Iron Age, somewhere in the first millennium BC, when
the inhabitants of a local Illyrian tribe sought refuge here during turbulent
times, laying the first foundations for what would later become a town rich in
history," Simonović writes.
THE FUTURE OF PRIZREN ON THE SANA
This year, the research will focus on excavating the
southern section, which has been the least explored so far. Simonović notes
that systematic archaeological exploration of Prizren on the Sana will provide
a solid database, significantly contributing to the study of medieval heritage
in the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The discovered artifacts
could serve as the foundation for a future local museum in Mrkonjić Grad.
Following the research, a monograph on the site will be
prepared, accompanied by a final exhibition. Archaeologists are confident that
Prizren on the Sana has a bright future, with a reconstructed complex, museum
exhibits, and attractive features that will draw visitors.
Systematic archaeological investigations of this site have
been ongoing since 2011, organized by the Museum of the Republic of Srpska,
with financial support from the Municipality of Mrkonjić Grad and the Ministry
of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska.